Darwin PhD student and Head of Data Strategy and Insights at Arm, Fatema El-Wakeel explains how she keeps all the plates in the air.
When I began my PhD in 2022, it was immediately after Covid. My role at Jaguar Land Rover was becoming busier, yet I had plenty of free time. Between work, training for a duathlon, and reading numerous books, I suddenly thought, “Let’s apply for a PhD.” Recalling this makes me smile, as nothing about the timing made sense on paper, but it felt right. I entered this journey knowing it would be demanding. What I did not foresee was how profoundly it would influence me both personally and professionally.
Working in data strategy and emerging technologies at a global leadership level while doing a PhD in Engineering Management at the Institute for Manufacturing has been a juggling act, but also a gift. My work at Unilever, and now at Arm, constantly brings real problems, fresh perspectives and emerging technologies into my academic thinking. The PhD gives me the depth and discipline that make me better at what I do day to day. I no longer see industry and academia as separate. They feed each other in ways I never anticipated.
It feels like being blessed with living two completely different lives at the same time. My days usually start early because work needs me. Then, after a long day of meetings, decisions and data, I change gears and try to get into research mode. Some nights I manage it. Other nights, I stare at my laptop and accept that my brain is not happy to cooperate.
Weekends become a balancing act between catching up and catching my breath. Annual leave often turns into conference appearances, writing sessions, or catching up on delayed research. This is my kind of holiday, and it inspires me to be a better version of myself. Travelling is usually linked to conferences and research. Even with all that, I have grown to love it. Having one foot in industry and another in academia keeps everything interesting. Sometimes, a moment at work sparks a research idea, and something I read for my PhD changes how I view things at work. These two lives talk to each other in the background without me forcing it. My PhD has been there for me while changing jobs and was a great chat in interviews. It saw me grow and develop.
This doesn’t mean things are always smooth; I had my share of challenges, including battling Covid complications, but this is when having the right College makes this journey easier. Having Duncan (Needham) as my Tutor has also provided a solid ground for when I needed advice. When things feel overwhelming or the balance tilts too far, he’s someone I was able to reach out to and who understands what part-time students face. That kind of understanding makes a real difference when we are trying to keep all the plates spinning.
I chose Darwin after speaking with students in 2021 because I wanted support that felt genuine, and that’s exactly what I found. Darwin has played a significant role in keeping me grounded. Even quiet workspaces matter more than you might expect when juggling so much. The writing sessions with the library, finding a room to stay in College over summer so I can catch up on my studies while working or simply getting good coffee from the café or awesome food when studying . Over the past few years, I have so many memories from the and racing the Chariots of Fire with Darwin running club and Alan Blackwell’s Engineering Fellow lunch to the Venetian May ball. It is an experience that Darwin has created over the past four years and is still creating!
So, what does a part-time PhD actually feel like?
It feels completely human. There are highs when everything clicks, and you feel energised. There are lows when you are exhausted and questioning everything, including your sanity. There are long stretches of simply going on. Somewhere in the middle of all that, you grow without even noticing it.
Even with the chaos, the late nights and the constant balancing act, I would not trade this experience for the world. It has become a meaningful part of my life, and I am genuinely glad I took the leap.
This PhD journey would not be possible without the steady guidance of my inspiring supervisor, David Stillwell, the support of my trusted advisor Tim Minshall, and the early guidance of my initial supervisor, Veronica Martinez. I’m equally grateful to my employers throughout this journey, Jaguar Land Rover, Unilever, and Arm for giving me the space and encouragement to grow while pursuing this work. I also want to express my sincere thanks to RADMA for funding this PhD and enabling me to pursue this research. Above all, my deepest gratitude goes to my family and to the remarkable community around me, whose energy and passion for data and emerging technologies have been a constant source of inspiration.
